Fueled by rations of beer, ramen, and a couple hours of sleep, Michael Cattie, Lane Clark, and Jesse Montandon set out early to ski 10,302-foot Tumbling Peak. They were inspired to ski the line—looker's left in this photo—by the late skier Trevor Sexsmith, who pioneered the route. The couloir, as steep as 50 degrees in places, was not skiing well.

"I was barely able to get an edge in. The upper section was the most gripped I have been on skis in recent memory," said Cattie.

After a successful descent, a well-deserved nap back at camp was cut short by a large visitor. Just 40 feet away, a 300-pound grizzly bear had followed their skin track. Fortunately, it soon departed. Aprés was well-earned that night.

This story originally appeared in the October 2017 (46.2) issue of POWDER. To have award winning photos delivered right to your door, in print, subscribe here.